When working late at night the previous month, 39-year-old Groeschen noticed that his left eye was unreasonably itchy and irritated and mistook it for allergies. But by morning, the pain had worsened; his eye was goopy, and his eyesight was getting progressively blurrier.
He went to the Cincinnati Eye Institute after being advised to by a friend, where diagnostic testing revealed an illness brought on by Pseudomonas bacteria that had gone undetected while hiding beneath his contact lenses. The infection had the potential to develop silently before showing symptoms.
Antibiotics were given to the patient as a kind of treatment for his infection, which they thankfully were effective in curing; regrettably, a side effect of the condition left him with a corneal ulcer. The patient lost vision in one eye due to scar tissue that the germs had left behind.
This is like gazing through a piece of glass that is no longer translucent, says Dr. Groeschen. The disease causes the cornea to deteriorate over time, making it harder to see past the scarring.
He may require a cornea transplant to manage this medical condition and maybe regain his vision, which might take up to a year to recover.
Owner of a design-based restorations company Tom Groeschen disclosed that he is running behind on all his work obligations and cannot take a break. According to the product packaging, he fell asleep wearing contact lenses that were safe to wear while sleeping.
Nevertheless, the American Academy of Ophthalmology warned against use in 2013, asserting that prolonged wear increases the risk of ocular infection, regardless of the type of contact lenses worn.
Dr. William Faulkner responded by telling Cincinnati’s Local 12 that it is not recommended to sleep with contact lenses on.
According to the most recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost everyone who wears contacts partake in at least one “risky behavior.” These actions include leaving the lens coverings on longer than advised, topping off the solution rather than replacing it entirely, and even sleeping with contacts.
These discoveries have led medical experts like Faulkner to advise against using contacts overnight since they could potentially injure the eyes.
Daily-wear disposable contact lenses are the safest alternative for people needing vision correction. Doctors recommend these lenses since they are made only to be worn when awake and offer better protection than extended-wear contacts.
Additionally, disposables should be changed frequently to lessen the likelihood of bacterial contamination or other potentially harmful materials.
